In The Shadow of Longs Peak
Friday, October 13, 2023
I did not sleep well overnight so skipped walking up Mule Canyon and opted for staying in camp and reading “A Council of Dolls” which a finished. A good book! After that, a sketch. After that, a walk. I still do not feel particularly chipper. Took some photos then headed back to camp.
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Eclipse Day!
We are up at 7 and on our way by 7:30. I made cold-brew last night. Not as good as a hot cup of coffee but passable. We packed bagels and crème cheese to eat later.
The eclipse will begin around 9:30 and end around noon. Totality will be around 10:30.
We head west on UT 95, then southwest on UT 275. Then pull off on Red Canyon Road, drive a short distance then pull off into wash.
What a treat to watch the eclipse! We did have protective eye-wear, purchased before-hand. The moon did creep over and cover the sun, creating a “ring of fire”, very cool.
I did notice it did not get nearly as dark as the total eclipse nor did the birds stop signing, as compated to the total eclipse we witnessed at Glendo in 2018.
This eclipse went directly over Chaco. I wonder if Native Americans at the time had the sense of knowing when an eclipse would happen.
Afterwards, Gary went for a bike ride. I started out but lost my enthusiasm and turned back after 10 minutes. More fun to read!
While reading, Kathryn and Chet drive by. They were further up Red Canyon Road for the eclipse and are camped in a spot on the road to the Kane Ranger Station.
I had another visitor, a man from Texas on this ATV who had lost his way. He had started from Fry Canyon and took a wrong turn somewhere. We looked at the various maps and he decided the best choice was to return the way he came.
Gary returns. He loads up his bike. We head back to camp. I read more and write in my journal.
Sunday, October 15, 2023
We have a nice breakfast of sausage and waffles. Do dishes. Then are on our way. We do not stop at Glenwood.
Comb Ridge
Comb Ridge, Bears Ears National Monument, Utah
October 10, 2023 to October 17, 2023
Annular Eclipse Outing
Our goal is to observe an annular eclipse on October 14tt which will pass directly overhead along the road between Natural Bridges National Monument and Halls Crossing, UT on the south side of Lake Powell.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Gary was over on Monday evening and we loaded my stuff into the truck. We had an easy supper of pizza and turned in early.
We were up by 7:30, completed tasks, and final loading of coolers and personal items.
Away we go. First, a stop at Gary’s to pick up gear for a possible stop at Glenwood on the way back, then headed south toward Boulder at 9 AM. It was an easy drive to Grand Junction where we stop for gas.
Next is Moab, and a stop at City Market. Their website said they carried sushi though that turned out to not be true. We choose bratwurst and pre-make salad for tonight’s supper. Our checkout time at City Market was 4:15 PM, so that makes the drive to Moab 7 hours.
Next is Blanding, where we gas up at the A & W convenience store, where US 191 takes a jog. We continue south the UT 95, west through Comb Ridge, then turn south on the Comb Wash Road.
Our plan was to get a spot at the Comb Wash BLM Campground, but it was nearly full, so we headed down the road to find a remote spot. There is a spur to the left, a bit before the road drops down into a wash. We take it. The first spot is taken but there is another track to the right that we take. At the end is a nice spot in a turnaround, tucked down below the surrounding area. To one side is a line of trees that line the wash just down the road. This will be our home for a few days.
We pick the flattest spot for the tent, get it setup; then add pads and sleeping bags. Then dinner and a beer. The sunshade will have to wait till tomorrow.
We sit up a bit, looking at the stars. The big dipper is huge against the northern horizon and a couple of shooting stars pass. This is the first time since my stop at Bear Lake that I have sat out and looked at the stars. Again, the desert nights sky is amazing. So many more of the dimmer stars are seen but the bright stars do not seem to be any brighter.
It’s quite here, other than the occasional vehicle coming down or going up to comb ridge. It begins to get a bit chilly so we crawl into the tent.
Observations: Driving through the cut of Comb Ridge is always cool, it’s very vertical walls of deep red sandstone; then down the other side; across the Comb Wash valley, the far ridge is capped with white sandstone. The trees are still green with the occasional spot of yellow.
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Again, the sun was just breaking over the ridge at 8:45 when I got up.
On this trip, I have been able to keep to my camping rule of not getting up till the sun is up and warm. I wonder if I would continue to do these late season outings if I had to get up early.
It seemed chillier overnight, though I still did not zip up my sleeping bag. And it was breezy with the fly flapping about in the wind. But the tent poles were not bending so it could not have been too windy. It seemed like it sprinkled for just a bit during the night. This morning, our kitchen gear had just a touch of frost and the water jugs were glazed with ice. So it was down to freezing or slightly below overnight.
According to the forecast, the winds should calm down by later afternoon and remain calm for the remainder of the trip.
I am still waffling between Arch Canyon and Walnut Knob. I think Arch Canyon will win out, since I have not been to those 2 ruins. But, still, I would like to revisit Walnut Knob.
I make coffee. Then a 10 minute walk to the campground and restroom. Then back again for more coffee, some sketching, and breakfast. What a treat! We decide the dishes can wait and work on packing up for today’s outing.
Once parked at Arch Canyon, I decide to skip Walnut Knob and head up Arch Canyon with both cameras. As I start up and see Gary is returning so I snap a picture of him in this pink t-shirt. I wonder why he turned around. As I remember from before, the trail at the start is not well marked. We both head up the canyon.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Still tucked into our sleeping bags, in the quiet we hear the wings of a raven as it flies overhead!
We get up around 8:45, just as the sun is peeking over the ridge, filling our campsite with morning light. We’re bundled up to start, but it’s not long before we shed jackets, hats and gloves.
First is coffee for me and hot cocoa for Gary. I do some writing and drawing. Gary makes a breakfast of scrambled eggs. I stuff mine into a tortilla with some salsa. Then I go back to writing.
A slight breeze comes up. The leaves on the trees flutter and the branches of the willows sway.
Now it’s time to find our spot to watch the eclipse on Saturday. We drive west on UT 95 past the turnoff for Natural Bridges, then southwest toward Halls Crossing, another paved road. The road is lined with buttes and cliffs. Neither of us have been here before.
We turn around at the BLM road to Clay Hills, which I guess is the access point for some of the paddles on the San Juan River. Now we backtrack and turn left at Red Canyon Road, which seems to be at or near point zero, is good access and pull-outs.
This will be our destination on Saturday. We’ll need to be up early and driving away by 7:30, so no breakfast. We’ll take plenty of water and snacks as our plan would be to bike afterward.
Now back to camp. Scouting was our only activity for today, so its basically a down-day (for a change).
Shrimp Scampi with Orzo which turns out to be extra good.
Gary hits the hay early. I stay up to write about our day.
There is a mass of grey clouds to the north so perhaps a change in weather is headed our way. Everything is tucked away and this spot is somewhat protected from the wind, so I think we are good.
Tomorrow, we have an outing planned to Arch Canyon. I would like to hike both to Walnut Knob to look at those pictographs again as well as hike to the 2 ruins in Arch Canyon. Gary wants to bike Arch Canyon.